Debra Mae Fulton:1981, Hammond, Indiana

  


  Debra Mae Fulton was born on August 6th,1965

to Verna (German) Fulton and Eulys Fulton. 



  She grew up in Hammond, Indiana. She attended Hammond Tech High. 


  On October 31st, 1981, 16 year old Debra went out on Halloween Night like most every young person would. Debra lived a mile from the Roller Dome roller skating rink. She was probably excited to see her friends and skate to the upbeat music. Olivia Newton John’s song “Physical” was one of the most popular tunes then. When I went roller skating in those days they still played a lot of disco too. It was a guaranteed fun time. 


   Debra’s mother offered to drive her but Debra said she would rather walk. Debra and her family lived at 5644 Walter Street in the neighborhood near Hammond Tech High. 


   Debra did not return home that night. She was found the next morning November 1st, 1981, on All Saints Day. A few children were playing under the Calumet Avenue bridge and they saw Debra Mae Fulton in the water. (That bridge is not terribly far from Debra’s home.)


  Debra had been murdered by a blow to the head. She had suffered a massive skull fracture. Who could have done this? 


  I can offer up two suspects. 


  Paul Dressel murdered Robin Szafasz on September 10th, 1982. Robin was found in Crown Point. She had suffered blunt trauma to the head and strangulation. Her murder was cold for decades but in 1999, investigators were able to connect Paul Dressel to the crime. He confessed and served 18 years and is free now. 



   John Lee Shippen went to jail for rape in 1983. He had been accused of rape and battery by more than one young woman in 1982. He was sentenced to 28 years. I believe he is free now as he doesn’t appear in the Indiana Incarcerated Database. 


   John Lee Shippen was also the last person seen with Dawn Marie Van Meter. She was raped, bludgeoned about the face and head and floating face down in a lagoon in Marquette Park. The two had met at a dance at the Ramada Inn. Dawn was a college student who was home for the summer. Dawn’s murder is still unsolved. 


   Could either of these men have murdered Debra?  It is very possible. 


   In the days after Debra’s murder an article came out that all but blamed Debra for her own murder. The reporter, Timothy Bannon, brought up the fact that she had run away before. Had she “run away” or just skipped school? I knew a lot of kids when I was growing up with undiagnosed and untreated learning difficulties who weren’t too eager to go to school. The article brought up the fact that her parents were divorced. Actually, he only mentioned her mother with derision, the “divorcee”. He didn’t mention her father who would also have been divorced. Mr. Timothy Bannon definitely did not blame the murderer for Debra’s murder. 



  When we engage in victim blaming we don’t solve cases. We simply dismiss the importance of even working on the case at all. 


   Debra Mae Fulton was only 16. She left the house to go roller skating on Halloween night. It should have been a fun night out. Debra should have been able to grow up and figure out life and what she wanted from it. Debra should still be here with us. 


Rest in Peace Debra


If you have a tip that can help solve Debra Mae Fulton’s cold case please call 1-800-453-4756 or email the Indiana State Police Cold Case unit at 

ispcoldcase@isp.in.gov




Shareable YouTube video here:https://youtu.be/EHzVJTSEmFg?si=LGTm2TB4B5GbOkT_




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